Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30 begins with a new name for the writer – that of Agur – which some scholars believe to be a nickname for Solomon. He will begin by expressing how mindful he is as a human of how little he knows of who God is – he is humbled by how much about God he does not know and his questions reveal thirst to want to know more about God.

1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:
2. Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man
3. I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One
4. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

Agur reveal he knows so little – a reminder to us of how little we really know. Agur now begins to reveal what he does know!

5. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him
6. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Now he makes a powerful request for his life:

7. ¶ Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):
8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me;
9. Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Verses 7-9 is a prayer – it speaks of character development and to have removed from him the things that would damage his character.

He does not want any part with lying. Honest is a core value of your character and lying creates a huge flaw in your integrity.

He also want to handle correctly what has been entrusted to him – He does not want to get to the place of being so full that he has no need of praying “give us this day our daily bread.” But he also does not want to be so improvised that he feels he must steal and profane the Lord’s name. This idea of profaning the name of God by stealing has the idea that in stealing you are saying God did not live up to His name – He is not able to provide.

Verses 7-9 is worth spending more time studying – memorize these verses and pray this: “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches”

Now he reveals various points of wisdom

10. Do not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found Be careful what you say about other people.

He has wisdom addressing a generation – notice the spiral downward.

11. There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.
12. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men

Wisdom says there are things that are insatiable:

15. The leech has two daughters—Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:
16. The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water—And the fire never says, “Enough!”

As you look at yourself, how greedy are you?

17. The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat

What a scary verse. HONOR YOUR PARENTS!

Wisdom talks about things that are WONDERFUL:

18. ¶ There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand:
19. The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a

There are things we see that just amaze us.

“The way of a man with a virgin” speaks of how a man will work to win a ladies hand –

I have used this portion of the verse to teach on dating that there is not a set formula for dating. One guy will do one thing and it works.  Another guy will do something else and it works.

Figuring out how a man is to convince a woman to marry his (to win a woman’s heart, if you will) is too wonderful for us to comprehend.  Each dating story is unique!

20. This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

Inserted at the end of the things that are too wonderful seems to be a fifth thing – but it is not a wonderful thing – yet we are greatly amazed by how a woman can commit adultery and proclaim innocence. The more people sin the more they reject the idea of sin!

Wisdom reveals things that are intolerable for it seems to send the wrong message of how life works:

21. For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22. For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,
23. A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress. Hateful woman should stay single just as irresponsible men should stay single

Wisdom reveals that GREAT lessons can be learn from little things:

24. ¶ There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
25. The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;

27. The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;
28. The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’

The ant prepares – They value Preparation

The rock badgers protect – They value Protection The locust work together – They value Cooperation

The spider seizes opportunity – they value Imagination

Wisdom speaks of that which is majestic:

29. ¶ There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:

30. A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any;
31. A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with
32. If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your yourself

Put your hand on your mouth speaks of holding your tongue. Quit bringing shame to yourself.

33. For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces

Something are just true: twist a nose and you get blood – keep arguing and you will have a fight.